Image Display Device

ABSTRACT

An image display device includes a display unit which displays a first image and a second image, and a projection optical system which directs light of the first image and light of the second image toward a windshield. The display unit displays the first image and the second image in different display areas on the same plane. The projection optical system sets an image point of the light of the first image and an image point of the light of the second image, so that a first virtual image and a second virtual image are formed at positions having different distances from a viewing point within a visible area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2016/087393 filed on Dec. 15, 2016 and designatedthe U.S., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to image display devices such as a head-updisplay device or the like, and more particularly to an image displaydevice which displays a virtual image, which is to be visuallyrecognized, through a transparent member such as a windshield or thelike.

2. Description of the Related Art

A head-up display for automobiles projects an image onto glass of afront window (windshield) or a combiner, to display various informationas a virtual image in front of a driver's field of vision, and recently,products of various types have been reduced to practice.

In a general head-up display, an intermediate image, that is imaged on ascreen such as a diffuser or the like, is projected onto the windshieldor the combiner through a projection optical system (magnifying mirroror the like). Accordingly, even in a case where the position of theprojection optical system is fixed, the position of the virtual image,in front of the driver and visible from the driver, can be varied inforward and backward directions, by varying the position of the screenwhere the intermediate image is imaged.

In a head-up display device described in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2009-150947, for example, images are respectivelydisplayed on three screens, and the images are reflected by a mirror andprojected onto the windshield (for example, refer to FIG. 3 of JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-150947). Because distances fromthe mirror, which is a projection means, to the three screens, aredifferent, the three virtual images corresponding to the imagesrespectively displayed on the three screens are visible from the driveras if the positions of the three virtual images in front of the driverwere different in the forward and backward directions.

In a head-up display device described in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2015-34919, for example, images are respectivelydisplayed on two screens, and the images are reflected by a concavemirror of an optical component and projected onto the windshield (forexample, refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 of Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2015-34919). In this head-up display device, the twovirtual images corresponding to the images respectively displayed on thetwo screens are also visible from the driver as if the positions of thetwo virtual images in front of the driver were different in the forwardand backward directions.

When imaging the intermediate image on the screen by the scanning lightbeam, the resolution improves more with smaller beam diameters, andnormally, the light beam incident to the screen is converged by anoptical system. Because the light beam is converged by the opticalsystem, the beam diameter differs depending on the distance from theoptical system. When one screen is provided, a satisfactory resolutioncan be obtained by configuring the optical system to align a focal pointon this screen (to minimize the beam diameter). However, when aplurality of screens are provided and the focal point of the light beamis aligned to one screen, the beam diameter becomes large at the otherscreens. For this reason, in the head-up display device described inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-150947 referred above,when the focal point of the light beam is aligned to one screen, theresolution deteriorates at the other two screens. The differences amongthe beam diameters depending on the positions of the screens are reducedwhen the optical system is configured to form the light beam intoapproximately parallel light, however, because the beam diameter cannotbe sufficiently reduced according to this method, the resolution at eachscreen deteriorates.

On the other hand, in the head-up display device described in JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-34919, a MEMS mirror that is usedcan vary a radius of curvature of the concave mirror, and the focalpoint can be aligned to each of the two screens (for example, refer toFIG. 5 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-34919).However, when the radius of curvature of the concave mirror iscontrolled by the MEMS mirror, there are problems in that thecomputation load becomes large due to the complex control of the radiusof curvature that is required, and that it is difficult to accuratelyalign the focal point of the light beam having a small spot diameter onthe screen.

Further, the conventional head-up display devices described aboverequire the plurality of screens, on which the intermediate images areimaged, to be arranged at different positions with respect to theoptical system, and there is a problem in that the size of the devicebecomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide an image display device which can form a plurality of virtualimages having different distances from a viewing point, using a simpleconfiguration.

According to one aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, animage display device which directs light of a first image and light of asecond image toward a translucent member, reflects the light of thefirst image and the light of the second image from the translucentmember toward a visible area, and displays a first virtual imagecorresponding to the first image and a second virtual imagecorresponding to the second image at positions visible through thetranslucent member when viewed from the visible area, includes a displayunit configured to display the first image and the second image, and aprojection optical system that directs the light of the first image andthe light of the second image toward the translucent member, wherein thedisplay unit displays the first image and the second image at differentdisplay areas on the same plane, and wherein the projection opticalsystem sets an image point of the light of the first image and an imagepoint of the light of the second image, so that the first virtual imageand the second virtual image are formed at positions having differentdistances from a viewing point within the visible area.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a state where an image display deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on avehicle.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining virtual images displayed by the imagedisplay device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of theimage display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams illustrating examples of a displaysurface and display areas of a display unit. FIG. 4A illustrates anexample provided with two display areas on a single display surface, andFIG. 4B illustrates an example provided with a display area in each oftwo display surfaces.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one modification of the display unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a projection optical system in the image displaydevice illustrated in FIG. 7, viewed in a direction indicated by anarrow A.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device according to a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

An image display device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described, by referring to the drawings.

The image display device according to this embodiment may be a devicewhich forms virtual images at a plurality of positions having differentdistances from a viewing point, such as a vehicle head-up display devicewhich forms the virtual image at each of a near position and a farposition in front of a driver, for example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a state where an image display device10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on avehicle 1. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the image displaydevice 10 is embedded inside a dashboard 2 located in front of asteering wheel 4.

The image display device 10 emits light L1 of a first image toward afirst incident area PA1 of a windshield 3, and emits light L2 of asecond image toward a second incident area PA2 of the windshield 3. Thewindshield 3 corresponds to a translucent member in one embodiment ofthe present invention. Because the windshield 3 serves as asemi-reflecting surface, these lights (L1 and L2) are reflected from thewindshield 3 toward a visible area SA of a driver 5, and reach the eyesof the driver 5. The driver 5 visually recognizes a first virtual imageIM1 of the light L1 of the first image, and visually recognizes a secondvirtual image IM2 of the light L2 of the second image.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the virtual images displayed by theimage display device 10 according to this embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the virtual images (IM1 and IM2) viewed from thedriver 5 are formed at positions in front through the windshield 3. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first virtual imageIM1 is formed at a far position when compared to the second virtualimage IM2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of theimage display device 10 according to the first embodiment. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 3, the image display device 10 includes adisplay unit 11, a projection optical system 12, an actuator 15, and acontroller 16.

The display unit 11 displays a first image and a second imagecorresponding to the first virtual image IM1 and the second virtualimage IM2, respectively. The display unit 11 displays the first imageand the second image in different display areas on the same plane. Forexample, the display unit 11 includes a device (liquid crystal display)that displays an image on a planar display surface, by transmitting orreflecting light from a light source, such as an LED or the like, at aliquid crystal panel.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams illustrating examples of the displaysurface and the display areas of the display unit 11. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4A, the display unit 11 includes a single displaysurface 111, and two display areas (DA1 and DA2) are provided on thedisplay surface 111. The display unit 11 displays the first image in thefirst display area DA1, and displays the second image in the seconddisplay area DA2. When there a single display surface is provided asillustrated in FIG. 4A, the display unit 11 is formed using a singledisplay means (liquid display or the like).

On the other hand, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the displayunit 11 includes two display surfaces 111A and 111B. The first displayarea DA1, which displays the first image, is provided on the displayarea 111A. The second display area DA2, which displays the second image,is provided on the display area 111B. When two display surfaces areprovided as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the display unit 11 is formed usingtwo display means (liquid crystal display or the like).

The projection optical system 12 directs the light L1 of the first imageand the light L2 of the second image displayed on the display unit 11,toward the windshield 3. The projection optical system 12 sets an imagepoint of the light L1 of the first image and an image point of the lightL2 of the second image, respectively, so as to form the first virtualimage IM1 and the second virtual image IM2 at positions having differentdistances from a viewing point E of the visible area SA.

In this embodiment, an optical path length of a first optical path OP1,and an optical path length of a second optical path OP2, are different.The first optical path OP1 is an optical path of the light L1 of thefirst image, reaching the first incident area RA1 of the windshield 3from the first display area DA1 of the display unit 11. The secondoptical path OP2 is an optical path of the light L2 of the second image,reaching the second incident area PA2 of the windshield 3 from thesecond display area DA2 of the display unit 11. Because the optical pathlength of the first optical path OP1 and the optical path length of thesecond optical path OP2 are different, a difference is created betweenthe image point of the light L1 of the first image and the image pointof the light L2 of the second image, to create a difference between adistance from the viewing point E to the first virtual image IM1 and adistance from the viewing point E to the second virtual image IM2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the projection optical system 12includes a first planar mirror 121, a second planar mirror 122, a firstcommon curved mirror 131, and a second common curved mirror 132.

The first common curved mirror 131 and the second common curved mirror132 are provided in common to the first optical path OP1 and the secondoptical path OP2, to concentrate or diverge the reflected light. Thefirst common curved mirror 131 reflects the light L1 of the first imageand the light L2 of the second image toward the windshield 3. The secondcommon curved mirror 132 reflects the light L1 of the first image andthe light L2 of the second image toward the first common curved mirror131.

The first planar mirror 121 is provided in the first optical path OP1between the display unit 11 and the second common curved mirror 132, andreflects the light L1 of the first image received from the display unit11 toward the second common curved mirror 132. The second planar mirror122 is provided in the second optical path OP2 between the display unit11 and the second common curved mirror 132, and reflects the light L2 ofthe second image received from the display unit 11 toward the secondcommon curved mirror 132.

The actuator 15 forms a mechanism which moves the first common curvedmirror 131 so that the position of the visible area SA changes,according control performed by the controller 16, and is configuredusing a motor, a piezoelectric element, or the like, for example.

The controller 16 forms a circuit which controls the general operationof the image display device 10, and is configured using a computer whichexecutes processes according to instruction codes of a program, forexample. The controller 16 controls the generation of the image to bedisplayed on the display unit 11, the position, attitude, andinclination of the first common curved mirror 131 by the actuator 15, orthe like.

In the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, the first imageand the second image are displayed in different display areas (DA1 andDA2) on the same plane of the display unit 11. The light L1 of the firstimage displayed in the first display area DA1 is incident to the firstplanar mirror 121, reflected from the first planar mirror 121 toward thesecond common curved mirror 132, reflected from the second common curvedmirror 132 toward the first common curved mirror 131, reflected from thefirst common curved mirror 131 toward the windshield 3, to becomeincident to the first incident area PA1 of the windshield 3. Inaddition, the light L2 of the second image displayed in the seconddisplay area DA2 is incident to the second planar mirror 122, reflectedfrom the second planar mirror 122 toward the second common curved mirror132, reflected from the second common curved mirror 132 toward the firstcommon curved mirror 131, reflected from the first common curved mirror131 toward the windshield 3, to become incident to the second incidentarea PA2 of the windshield 3. The light L1 of the first image and thelight L2 of the second image, incident to the windshield 3, arerespectively reflected toward the visible area SA, and reach the eyes ofthe driver 5 within the visible area SA. When viewed from the viewingpoint E of the driver 5, the first virtual image IM1 of the light L1 ofthe first image and the second virtual image IM2 of the light L2 of thesecond image are formed at the positions in front through the windshield3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first optical path OP1 of the light L1of the first image is longer compared to the second optical path OP2 ofthe light L2 of the second image. For this reason, when compared to theimage point of the light L2 of the second image, the length of theoptical path to the image point of the light L1 of the first image fromthe first common curved mirror 131 is longer. Accordingly, the firstvirtual image IM1 is formed at a far position from the viewing point Ewhen compared to the second virtual image IM2.

As described above, according to the image display device 10 accordingto this embodiment, the first image and the second image are displayedin the different display areas (DA1 and DA2) on the same plane of thedisplay unit 11. The image point of the light L1 of the first image andthe image point of the light L2 of the second image are set separatelyin the projection optical system 12, and thus, the first virtual imageIM1 and the second virtual image IM2 are formed at the positions havingdifferent distances from the viewing point E. For this reason, whencompared to cases where the display areas of the first image and thesecond image are not located on the same plane (such as a case wheredifferent screens arranged at different positions are used, or thelike), the configuration can be simplified, and the size of the devicecan be reduced.

In addition, according to the image display device 10 according to thisembodiment, by displaying the two images (first image and second image)on the single display surface 111, a common display means can be usedfor the two images, to make it possible to further simplify theconfiguration of the display unit 11.

Further, according to the image display device 10 according to thisembodiment, by respectively displaying the two images (first image andsecond image) on the two display surfaces 111A and 111B, an independentdisplay means can be provided for each of the images, to make it easierto set different display characteristics (resolution, luminance, or thelike) for each of the images.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, by concentrating or divergingthe reflected light at the first common curved mirror 131 and the secondcommon curved mirror 132, it is possible to set characteristics, such asa focal distance or the like of the projection optical system 12, usinga simple configuration. When the two images (first image and secondimage) are enlarged at the first common curved mirror 131 and the secondcommon curved mirror 132, the size of each of the images is relativelysmall in the optical paths (first optical path OP1 and second opticalpath OP2) between the display unit 11 and the second common curvedmirror 132. For this reason, by providing the planar mirrors (firstplanar mirror and second planar mirror) between the display unit 11 andthe second common curved mirror 132, it is possible to reduce the sizeof the planar mirrors.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by driving the first commoncurved mirror 131, which reflects the lights (L1 and L2) of the twoimages toward the windshield 3, by the actuator 15, the position of thevisible area SA can be changed. Consequently, compared to a case where aplurality of mirrors are moved to change the position of the visiblearea SA, it is possible to simplify the configuration because the numberof actuators can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one modification of the display unit11. In the modification illustrated in FIG. 5, the display unit 11includes a light source 112, such as a laser device or the like, ascanner 113 which reflects a light beam LS from the light source 112,and a screen 114 where the Images (first image and second image) areimaged by the light beam LS that is reflected and caused to scan by thescanner 113. The scanner 113 is a MEMS element having a mirror surfacewith an inclination that changes according to the control performed bythe controller 16, for example. The controller 16 controls the luminanceof each color of the light beam LS generated from the light source 112,and the inclination angle of the scanner 113, to image a predeterminedimage on the screen 114. According to this modification, because the twoimages (first image and second image) are imaged in different areas onthe same plane of the screen 114, it is unnecessary to adjust the beamdiameter of the light beam incident to the screen 114 for each of theimages.

The display unit 11, besides that used in the modification describedabove, may be a display device which displays an image by irradiatinglight onto a MEMS element having a large number of micro-mirror surfacesarranged in an array to reflect the light by the MEMS element, a displaydevice which includes a large number of spontaneous light emissionelements, such as organic EL elements or the like, arranged in an array,or the like.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device 10 according to the second embodiment. The imagedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 6 omits the actuator 15 of theimage display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, and replaces theprojection optical system 12 by a projection optical system 12A, but theconfiguration of other parts are similar to that of the image displaydevice 10 illustrated in FIG. 3. The image display device 10 accordingto the second embodiment supplies the light L1 of the first image andthe light L2 of the second image to a combiner 3A. The combiner 3A isarranged in front of the windshield 3, for example, and the driver 5visually recognizes the first virtual image IM1 and the second virtualimage IM2 through the combiner 3A. The combiner 3A corresponds to thetranslucent member in one embodiment of the present invention.

The projection optical system 12A includes a first planar mirror 121A,and a second planar mirror 122A. The first planar mirror 121A reflectsthe light L1 of the first image received from the display unit 11 towardthe first incident area PA1 of the combiner 3A. The second planar mirror122A reflects the light L2 of the second image received from the displayunit 11 toward the second incident area PA2 of the combiner 3A.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the optical path length of the first opticalpath OP1 of the light L1 of the first image is longer than the opticalpath length of the second optical path OP2 of the light L2 of the secondimage. For this reason, the first virtual image IM1 of the light L1 ofthe first image is formed at the far position from the viewing point Ewhen compared to the second virtual image IM2 of the light L2 of thesecond image.

According to this embodiment, it is also possible to obtain effectssimilar to those obtainable in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device 10 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is adiagram of a projection optical system 12B in the image display device10 illustrated in FIG. 7, viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow A.The image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 replacesthe projection optical system 12 of the image display device 10illustrated in FIG. 3 by the projection optical system 12B, but theconfiguration of other parts are similar to that of the image displaydevice 10 illustrated in FIG. 3.

The projection optical system 12B includes first planar mirrors 121B and121C, a first common curved mirror 131B, and a second common curvedmirror 132B.

The first common curved mirror 131B and the second common curved mirror132B are provided in common to the first optical path OP1 and the secondoptical path OP2, to concentrate or diverge the reflected light. Thefirst common curved mirror 131B reflects the light L1 of the first imageand the light L2 of the second image toward the windshield 3. The secondcommon curved mirror 132B reflects the light L1 of the first image andthe light L2 of the second image toward the first common curved mirror131B.

The first planar mirrors 121B and 121C are provided in series in thefirst optical path OP1 between the display unit 11 and the second commoncurved mirror 132B. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first planar mirror121B reflects the light L1 of the first image received from the displayunit 11 toward the first planar mirror 121C. The first planar mirror121C reflects the incoming light L1 of the first image from the firstplanar mirror 121B toward the second common curved mirror 132B.

The actuator 15 moves the first common curved mirror 131B so that theposition of the visible area SA changes, according the control performedby the controller 16.

In the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 7, the light L1 ofthe first image displayed in the first display area DA1 is incident tothe first planar mirror 121B, reflected from the first planar mirror121B toward the first planar mirror 121C, reflected from the firstplanar mirror 121C toward the second common curved mirror 132B,reflected from the second common curved mirror 132B toward the firstcommon curved mirror 131B, reflected from the first common curved mirror131B toward the windshield 3, to become incident to the first incidentarea RA1 of the windshield 3. In addition, the light L2 of the secondimage displayed in the second display area DA2 is directly incident tothe second common curved mirror 132B, reflected from the second commoncurved mirror 132B toward the first common curved mirror 131B, reflectedfrom the first common curved mirror 131B toward the windshield 3, tobecome incident to the second incident area PA2 of the windshield 3. Thelight L1 of the first image and the light L2 of the second image,incident to the windshield 3, are respectively reflected toward thevisible area SA, and reach the eyes of the driver 5 within the visiblearea SA. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first optical path OP1 of thelight L1 of the first image is longer compared to the second opticalpath OP2 of the light L2 of the second image, and for this reason, whencompared to the image point of the light L2 of the second image, thelength of the optical path to the image point of the light L1 of thefirst image from the first common curved mirror 131B is longer.Accordingly, the first virtual image IM1 is formed at the far positionfrom the viewing point E when compared to the second virtual image IM2.

According to this embodiment, it is also possible to obtain effectssimilar to those obtainable in the first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device 10 according to the fourth embodiment. The imagedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 9 replaces the projection opticalsystem 12 of the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 by aprojection optical system 12C, but the configuration of other parts aresimilar to that of the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3.

The projection optical system 12C includes two optical systems (12C-1and 12C-2) having different synthetic focal lengths. The first opticalsystem 12C-1 forms the first optical path OP1 from the first displayarea DA1 of the display unit 11 and reaching the first incident area PA1of the windshield 3. The second optical system 12C-2 forms the secondoptical path OP2 from the second display area DA2 of the display unit 11and reaching the second incident area PA2 of the windshield 3. Thesynthetic focal length of the first optical system 12C-1 is longcompared to the synthetic focal length of the second optical system12C-2. Because the synthetic focal length of the first optical system12C-1 and the synthetic focal length of the second optical system 12C-2are different, a difference is created between the image point of thelight L1 of the first image and the image point of the light L2 of thesecond image, to create a difference between the distance from theviewing point E to the first virtual image IM1 and the distance from theviewing point E to the second virtual image IM2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the projection optical system 12Cincludes a first curved mirror 141, a second curved mirror 142, and afirst common curved mirror 131C. The first optical system 12C-1 includesthe first curved mirror 141 and the first common curved mirror 131C, andthe second optical system 12C-2 includes the second curved mirror 142and the first common curved mirror 131C.

The first common curved mirror 131C is provided in common to the firstoptical path OP1 and the second optical path OP2, to concentrate ordiverge the reflected light. The first common curved mirror 131Creflects the light L1 of the first image and the light L2 of the secondimage toward the windshield 3.

The first curved mirror 141 is provided in the first optical path OP1between the display unit 11 and the first common curved mirror 131C, toconcentrate or diverge the reflected light. The first curved mirror 141reflects the light L1 of the first image received from the display unit11 toward the first common curved mirror 131C. The second curved mirror142 is provided in the second optical path OP2 between the display unit11 and the first common curved mirror 131C, to concentrate or divergethe reflected light. The second curved mirror 142 reflects the light L2of the second image received from the display unit 11 toward the firstcommon curved mirror 131C.

The actuator 15 moves the first common curved mirror 131C so that theposition of the visible area SA changes, according to the controlperformed by the controller 16.

In the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 9, the light L1 ofthe first image displayed in the first display area DA1 is incident tothe first curved mirror 141, reflected from the first curved mirror 141toward the first common curved mirror 131C, reflected from the firstcommon curved mirror 131C toward the windshield 3, to become incident tothe first incident area PA1 of the windshield 3. In addition, the lightL2 of the second image displayed in the second display area DA2 isincident to the second curved mirror 142, reflected from the secondcurved mirror 142 toward the first common curved mirror 131C, reflectedfrom the first common curved mirror 131C toward the windshield 3, tobecome incident to the second incident area PA2 of the windshield 3. Thelight L1 of the first image and the light L2 of the second image,incident to the windshield 3, are respectively reflected toward thevisible area SA, and reach the eyes of the driver 5 within the visiblearea SA. Because the synthetic focal length of the first optical system12C-1 forming the first optical path OP1 is longer than the syntheticfocal length of the second optical system 12C-2 forming the secondoptical path OP2, the first virtual image IM1 is formed at a farposition from the viewing point E when compared to the second virtualimage IM2.

In the image display device 10 according to this embodiment, thesynthetic focal length of the first optical system 12C-1 is set by thefirst curved mirror 141 and the first common curved mirror 131C, and thesynthetic focal length of the second optical system 12C-2 is set by thesecond curved mirror 142 and the first common curved mirror 131C.Because the synthetic focal lengths are respectively set in the twooptical systems (the first optical system 120-1 and the second opticalsystem 12C-2), a difference can easily be created between the two focalstacking distances. By creating the difference between the syntheticfocal lengths in the two optical systems (the first optical system 12C-1and the second optical system 12C-2), it is possible to omit planarmirrors (for example, the first planar mirror 121 and the second planarmirror 122 illustrated in FIG. 3) for creating the difference betweenthe optical path length of the first optical path OP1 and the opticalpath length of the second optical path OP2. For this reason, theconfiguration as a whole can further be simplified, and also enable thesize of the device to be further reduced.

In addition, in the image display device 10 according to thisembodiment, the lights of the two images (the first image and the secondimage) are reflected toward the first common curved mirror 131C by thetwo curved mirrors (the first curved mirror 141 and the second curvedmirror 142). Hence, the two optical paths (the first optical path OP1and the second optical path OP2) are respectively folded between thedisplay unit 11 and the first common curved mirror 131C, to enable thesize of the device to be reduced even further.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theimage display device 10 according to the fifth embodiment. The imagedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 10 replaces the projection opticalsystem 12 of the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 by aprojection optical system 12D, but the configuration of other parts aresimilar to that of the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3.

The projection optical system 12D includes two optical systems (12D-1and 12D-2) having different focal stacking distances, similarly to theprojection optical system 12C (FIG. 9) described above.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the projection optical system 12Dincludes a first planar mirror 121D, a second planar mirror 122D, afirst curved mirror 141D, a second curved mirror 142D, and a firstcommon curved mirror 131D. The first optical system 12D-1 includes thefirst planar mirror 121D, the first curved mirror 141D, and the firstcommon curved mirror 131D. The second optical system 12D-2 includes thesecond planar mirror 122D, the second curved mirror 142D, and the firstcommon curved mirror 131D.

The first common curved mirror 142D is provided in common to the firstoptical path OP1 and the second optical path OP2, to concentrate ordiverge the reflected light. The first common curved mirror 131Dreflects the light L1 of the first image and the light L2 of the secondimage toward the windshield 3.

The first curved mirror 141D is provided in the first optical path OP1between the first planar mirror 121D and the first common curved mirror131D, to concentrate or diverge the reflected light. The first curvedmirror 141D reflects the light L1 of the first image received from thefirst planar mirror 121D toward the first common curved mirror 131D.

The second curved mirror 142D is provided in the second optical path OP2between the second planar mirror 122D and the first common curved mirror131D, to concentrate or diverge the reflected light. The second curvedmirror 142D reflects the light L2 of the second image received from thesecond planar mirror 122D toward the first common curved mirror 131D.

The first planar mirror 121D is provided in the first optical path OP1between the display unit 11 and the first curved mirror 141D, andreflects the light L1 of the first image received from the display unit11 toward the first curved mirror 141D.

The second planar mirror 122D is provided in the second optical path OP2between the display unit 11 and the second curved mirror 142D, andreflects the light L1 of the first image received from the display unit11 toward the second curved mirror 142D.

In the image display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 10, the light L1 ofthe first image displayed in the first display area DA1 is incident tothe first planar mirror 121D, reflected from the first planar mirror121D toward the first curved mirror 141D, reflected from the firstcurved mirror 141D toward the first common curved mirror 131D, reflectedby the first common curved mirror 131D toward the windshield 3, tobecome incident to the first incident area PA1 of the windshield 3. Inaddition, the light L2 of the second image displayed in the seconddisplay area DA2 is incident to the second planar mirror 122D, reflectedfrom the second planar mirror 122D toward the second curved mirror 142D,reflected from the second curved mirror 142D toward the first commoncurved mirror 131D, reflected from the first common curved mirror 131Dtoward the windshield 3, to become incident to the second incident areaPA2 of the windshield 3. The light L1 of the first image and the lightof the second image, incident to the windshield 3, are respectivelyreflected toward the visible area SA, and reach the eyes of the driver 5within the visible area SA. The synthetic focal length of the firstoptical system 12C-1 forming the first optical path OP1 is longer thanthe synthetic focal length of the second optical system 12C-2 formingthe second optical path OP2. In addition, the optical path length of thefirst optical path OP1 is longer than the optical path length of thesecond optical path OP2. For this reason, the first virtual image IM1 isformed at a far position from the viewing point E when compared to thesecond virtual image IM2.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the difference between thefocal stacking distances of the two optical systems (the first opticalsystem 12D-1 and the second optical system 12D-2), a difference is setbetween the optical path length of the first optical path OP1 and theoptical path length of the second optical path OP2, and thus, it becomeseven easier to create the difference between the distances from theviewing pint of the position where the first virtual image IM1 is formedand the position where the second virtual image IM2 is formed. Inaddition, even when there is a limit to the range of the synthetic focallength that can be set in each of the optical systems, the differencebetween the optical path length of the first optical path OP1 and theoptical path length of the second optical path OP2 may be set, so thatthe difference between the distances from the viewing point of theposition where the first virtual image IM1 is formed and the positionwhere the second virtual image IM2 is formed can be set within a widerrange. Further, it is possible to independent adjust the relationshipsof the distances from the viewing point of the position where the firstvirtual image IM1 is formed and the position where the second virtualimage IM2 is formed, and projection magnifications of the first andsecond virtual images IM1 and IM2.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the embodiments, an imagedisplay device may direct light of a first image and light of a secondimage toward a translucent member, reflect the light of the first imageand the light of the second image from the translucent member toward avisible area, and display a first virtual image corresponding to thefirst image and a second virtual image corresponding to the second imageat positions visible through the translucent member when viewed from thevisible area. This image display device may include a display unitconfigured to display the first image and the second image, and aprojection optical system that directs the light of the first image andthe light of the second image toward the translucent member. The displayunit may display the first image and the second image at differentdisplay areas on the same plane. The projection optical system may setan image point of the light of the first image and an image point of thelight of the second image, so that the first virtual image and thesecond virtual image are formed at positions having different distancesfrom a viewing point within the visible area. According to thisconfiguration, the first image and the second image may be displayed inthe different display areas on the same plane of the display unit. Forthis reason, the configuration can be made more simple compared to acase where the display areas are not located on the same plane, and thesize of the device can be reduced.

Preferably, according to the first aspect of the embodiments, thedisplay unit may include a single display area which displays the firstimage and the second image. According to this configuration, because twoimages (first image and second image) may be displayed on the singledisplay area, and a common display means may be used for the two images,it is possible to simplify the configuration of the display unit.

Preferably, according to the first aspect of the embodiments, thedisplay unit may include one display area which displays the first imageand one display area which displays the second image. According to thisconfiguration, because one image (first image or second image) may bedisplayed in each of the two display areas, an independent display meansmay be provided for each image, to enable easier setting of differentdisplay characteristics (resolution, luminance, or the like) for eachimage.

In the image display device described above according to the firstaspect of the embodiments, an optical path length of a first opticalpath from the display area of the first image on the display unit to anincident area of the translucent member to where the light of the firstimage reaches, and an optical path length a second optical path from thedisplay area of the second image on the display unit to an incident areaof the translucent member to where the light of the second imagereaches, may be different. According to this configuration, because theoptical path length of the first optical path and the optical pathlength of the second optical path are different, the position where thefirst virtual image corresponding to the first image is formed and theposition where the second virtual image corresponding to the secondimage is formed are different when viewed from the viewing point withinthe visible area.

Preferably, according to the first aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system may include at least one of a firstplanar mirror provided only in the first optical path, and a secondplanar mirror provided only in the second optical path. According tothis configuration, by providing at least one of the first planar mirrorand the second planar mirror, the optical path becomes longer comparedto a case where these planar mirrors are not provided. For this reason,the optical path length of the first optical path and the optical pathlength of the second optical path can be set independently.

Preferably, according to the first aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system may include at least one commoncurved mirror, provided in common to the first optical path and thesecond optical path, and configured to concentrate or diverge reflectedlight. According to this configuration, the characteristics (focaldistance or the like) of the projection optical system is set byconcentrating or diverging the reflected light by the common curvedmirror.

Preferably, according to the first aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system includes a first common curvedmirror configured to reflect the light of the first image and the lightof the second image toward the translucent member, to concentrate ordiverge reflected light, and a second common curved mirror configured toreflect the light of the first image and the light of the second imagetoward the first common curved mirror, to concentrate or diverge thereflected light. At least one of the first planar mirror and the secondplanar mirror may be provided in an optical path between the displayunit and the second common curved mirror. According to thisconfiguration, the characteristics of the projection optical system,such as the focal distance or the like, is set by concentrating ordiverging the reflected light by the first common curved mirror and thesecond common curved mirror. In addition, when the image is enlarged atthe first common curved mirror and the second common curved mirror, theimage (first image or second image) in the optical path (first opticalpath or second optical path) between the display unit and the secondcommon curved mirror has a relatively small size. For this reason, it ispossible to reduce the size of the planar mirrors (first planar mirrorand second planar mirror).

Preferably, in the image display device described above according to asecond aspect of the embodiments, the projection optical system mayinclude a first optical system configured to form a first optical pathfrom the display area of the first image on the display unit to anincident area of the translucent member to where the light of the firstimage reaches, and a second optical system configured to form a secondoptical path from the display area of the second image on the displayunit to an incident area of the translucent member to where the light ofthe second image reaches. The first optical system and the secondoptical system may have different synthetic focal lengths. According tothis configuration, because the first optical system forming the firstoptical path and the second optical system forming the second opticalpath have different synthetic focal lengths, the position where thefirst virtual image corresponding to the first image is formed, and theposition where the second virtual image corresponding to the secondimage is formed, are different when viewed from the viewing point withinthe visible area.

Preferably, according to the second aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system may include at least one of a firstcurved mirror provided only in the first optical path and configured toconcentrate or diverge reflected light, and a second curved mirrorprovided only in the second optical path and configured to concentrateor diverge reflected light. According to this configuration, byproviding at least one of the first curved mirror and the second curvedmirror, it is possible to independently set the synthetic focal lengthof the first optical system and the synthetic focal length of the secondoptical system, and to easily create a difference between the twosynthetic focal lengths. By creating the difference between thesynthetic focal lengths of the two optical systems (first optical systemand second optical system), it is possible to omit a planar mirror whichis otherwise required to create the difference between the optical pathlength of the first optical path and the optical path length of thesecond optical path.

Preferably, according to the second aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system may include at least one commoncurved mirror, provided in common to the first optical path and thesecond optical path, and configured to concentrate or diverge reflectedlight. According to this configuration, the characteristics (syntheticfocal length or the like) of the projection optical system are set ineach of the first optical system and the second optical system, byconcentrating or diverging the reflected light at the common curvedmirror. The configuration becomes simple by the use of the common curvedmirror.

Preferably, according to the second aspect of the embodiments describedabove, the projection optical system may include a first common curvedmirror, provided in common to the first optical path and the secondoptical path, and configured to reflect the light of the first image andthe light of the second image toward the translucent member, toconcentrate or diverge reflected light, the first curved mirrorconfigured to reflect the light of the first image toward the firstcommon curved mirror, and the second curved mirror configured to reflectthe light of the second image toward the first common curved mirror.According to this configuration, the synthetic focal length of the firstoptical system is set by the first curved mirror and the first commoncurved mirror, and the synthetic focal length of the second opticalsystem is set by the second curved mirror and the first common curvedmirror. Because the synthetic focal length is set in each of the twooptical systems (first optical system and second optical system), it iseasier to create the difference between the two synthetic focal lengths.By creating the difference between the synthetic focal lengths of thetwo optical systems (first optical system and second optical system), itis possible to omit a planar mirror which is otherwise required tocreate the difference between the optical path length of the firstoptical path and the optical path length of the second optical path. Inaddition, according to this configuration, the lights of the two images(first image and second image) are respectively reflected by the twocurved mirrors (first curved mirror and second curved mirror) toward thefirst common curved mirror. Hence, the optical paths (first optical pathand second optical path) are folded between the display unit and thefirst common curved mirror, and enable the size of the device to bereduced.

Preferably, according to the second aspect of the embodiments describedabove, an actuator may be provided to move the first common curvedmirror, so as to vary a position of the visible area. According to thisconfiguration, the number of actuators can be reduced compared to a casewhere a plurality of mirrors are moved to change the position of thevisible area, and make the configuration simple.

Preferably, according to the second aspect of the embodiments describedabove, an optical path length of the first optical path and an opticalpath length of the second optical path in the projection optical systemmay be different. For example, the projection optical system may includeat least one of a first planar mirror provided only in the first opticalpath, and a second planar mirror provide only in the second opticalpath. According to this configuration, because the difference betweenthe optical path length of the first optical path and the optical pathlength of the second optical path is set, in addition to the differencebetween the synthetic focal lengths in the two optical systems (firstoptical system and second optical system), the difference can easily becreated between the distances from the viewing point to the positionwhere the first virtual image is formed and the position where thesecond virtual image is formed.

According to each of the embodiments and modification described above,it is possible to form a plurality of virtual images having differentdistances from a viewing point, using a simple configuration.

Although the embodiments are numbered with, for example, “first,”“second,” “third,” “fourth,” or “fifth,” the ordinal numbers do notimply priorities of the embodiments.

Although the present invention is described above with reference toseveral embodiments, the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, and various variations may be made.

For example, the number of planar mirrors, the number of curved mirrors,and the number of common curved mirrors of the projection optical systemin the embodiments described above are merely examples, and the numberof these mirrors may be set arbitrarily. In addition, the shape and thearrangement of each of the mirrors in the embodiments described aboveare also examples, and the mirrors may have other shapes and otherarrangements.

In the embodiments described above, two virtual images having differentdistances from the viewing point are formed, however, in otherembodiments of the present invention, three or more virtual imageshaving different distances from the viewing point may be formed.

In the examples illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the two curvedmirrors (141 and 142, and 141D and 142D) are physically separated,however, these curved mirrors may be integrally formed.

The translucent member in each of the embodiments described above hasproperties to transmit Tight, and a degree of transparency thereof maybe arbitrarily selected according to the usage.

1. An image display device which directs light of a first image andlight of a second image toward a translucent member, reflects the lightof the first image and the light of the second image from thetranslucent member toward a visible area, and displays a first virtualimage corresponding to the first image and a second virtual imagecorresponding to the second image at positions visible through thetranslucent member when viewed from the visible area, the image displaydevice comprising: a display unit configured to display the first imageand the second image; and a projection optical system that directs thelight of the first image and the light of the second image toward thetranslucent member, wherein the display unit displays the first imageand the second image at different display areas on the same plane, andwherein the projection optical system sets an image point of the lightof the first image and an image point of the light of the second image,so that the first virtual image and the second virtual image are formedat positions having different distances from a viewing point within thevisible area.
 2. The image display device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe display unit includes a single display area which displays the firstimage and the second image, or one display area which displays the firstimage and one display area which displays the second image.
 3. The imagedisplay device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projection opticalsystem includes a first optical path from the display area of the firstimage on the display unit to an incident area of the translucent memberto where the light of the first image reaches, and a second optical pathfrom the display area of the second image on the display unit to anincident area of the translucent member to where the light of the secondimage reaches, and an optical path length of the first optical path andan optical path length of the second optical path are different.
 4. Theimage display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projectionoptical system includes at least one of a first planar mirror providedonly in the first optical path, and a second planar mirror provided onlyin the second optical path.
 5. The image display device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the projection optical system includes at least onecommon curved mirror, provided in common to the first optical path andthe second optical path, and configured to concentrate or divergereflected light.
 6. The image display device as claimed in claim 5,wherein the projection optical system includes a first common curvedmirror configured to reflect the light of the first image and the lightof the second image toward the translucent member, to concentrate ordiverge reflected light, and a second common curved mirror configured toreflect the light of the first image and the light of the second imagetoward the first common curved mirror, to concentrate or diverge thereflected light, wherein at least one of the first planar mirror and thesecond planar mirror is provided in an optical path between the displayunit and the second common curved mirror.
 7. The image display device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the projection optical system includes afirst optical system configured to form a first optical path from thedisplay area of the first image on the display unit to an incident areaof the translucent member to where the light of the first image reaches,and a second optical system configured to form a second optical pathfrom the display area of the second image on the display unit to anincident area of the translucent member to where the light of the secondimage reaches, wherein the first optical system and the second opticalsystem have different synthetic focal lengths.
 8. The image displaydevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projection optical systemincludes at least one of a first curved mirror provided only in thefirst optical path and configured to concentrate or diverge reflectedlight, and a second curved mirror provided only in the second opticalpath and configured to concentrate or diverge reflected light.
 9. Theimage display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the projectionoptical system includes at least one common curved mirror, provided incommon to the first optical path and the second optical path, andconfigured to concentrate or diverge reflected light.
 10. The imagedisplay device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the projection opticalsystem includes a first common curved mirror, provided in common to thefirst optical path and the second optical path, and configured toreflect the light of the first image and the light of the second imagetoward the translucent member, to concentrate or diverge reflectedlight, the first curved mirror configured to reflect the light of thefirst image toward the first common curved mirror, and the second curvedmirror configured to reflect the light of the second image toward thefirst common curved mirror.
 11. The image display device as claimed inclaim 10, further comprising: an actuator configured to move the firstcommon curved mirror, so as to vary a position of the visible area. 12.The image display device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: anactuator configured to move the first common curved mirror, so as tovary a position of the visible area.
 13. The image display device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein an optical path length of the first opticalpath and an optical path length of the second optical path in theprojection optical system are different.
 14. The image display device asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the projection optical system includes atleast one of a first planar mirror provided only in the first opticalpath, and a second planar mirror provide only in the second opticalpath.
 15. A method for displaying images at a visible area, the methodcomprising displaying on a display unit a first image and a second imageat different display areas on the same plane; directing light of thefirst image and light of the second image toward a translucent memberwith projection optics, directing the light of the first image and thelight of the second image toward the translucent member; reflecting thelight of the first image and the light of the second image from thetranslucent member toward a visible area; and displaying a first virtualimage corresponding to the first image and a second virtual imagecorresponding to the second image at positions visible through thetranslucent member when viewed from the visible area, wherein theprojection optics set an image point of the light of the first image andan image point of the light of the second image, so that the firstvirtual image and the second virtual image are formed at positionshaving different distances from a viewing point within the visible area.